Committee details

Adoption & Permanency Panel

Purpose of committee

The Adoption and
Permanency Panel considers permanency plans for all Lambeth Looked
After Children.

The statutory role of the
Panel is to consider (i) whether a
child should be placed for adoption, (ii) whether a prospective
adopter is suitable to be an adoptive parent, and (iii) whether a
prospective adopter would be a suitable adoptive parent for a
particular child or children (iv) whether a child/children should
be fostered long term.

Under the regulations the
Panel makes a recommendation to the Adoption Agency and a senior
officer currently the Divisional Director Social Care, makes the
decision as the representative of the Adoption Agency taking into
account the recommendation (either affirmative or negative) of the
Panel.

Additionally, the Panel
also considers whether a foster carer is suitable to care for a
child or children long term. In such
instances the membership of the Panel must satisfy the additional
requirements of the Fostering Regulations.

The
Panel should be gender balanced as far as possible and include at
least:

i)A medical advisor (more than 1 may be
appointed)

ii)An elected Member of the council

iii)3 independent members

iv)2 social workers in the employment of the
authority

but no more than 10 members in total.

Currently, one elected Member must sit on the
Panel.Where possible, this member should be either a
member of the Corporate Parenting Board or the Cabinet Member with
responsibility for Children's Services.